| Name: | Mr. John Godfrey |
| Political Party: | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Constituency: | Don Valley West |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Telephone: | (613) 992-2855 |
| Fax: | (613) 995-1635 |
| Email: | Godfrey.J@parl.gc.ca |
| Address: | House of Commons, Ottawa K1A OA6 |
| Constituency Address: | 146 Laird Dr Suite 203 Toronto, Ontario M4G 3V7 |
09/20/2001 - posting to Canada Census Campaign mail list re: MP John Godfrey.
To: Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 9:34 AM Subject: [CCC] Response from M.P. Thought I'd provide the response that I recently received from my M.P., John Godfrey. It took almost three months, and does not impress one with the level of support: "September 6, 2001 Hon. Brian Tobin, Minister Dear Minister: I have been contacted again by my constituent, Mr. Brian Bennett, regarding the public release of the post-1901 census data (I attach his follow-up lette of June 19th, 2001). I wonder if you have reached a decision on this important matter? Yours sincerely, John Godfrey MP 02/06/2001 - email from MP John Godfrey to Muriel M. Davidson.
Date: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 To: Muriel M. Davidson Subject: RE: Hoping for your support again Dear Ms.Davidson, Statistics Canada had organized an expert panel to consider and review options for amending legislation allowing access to Census records. In December 2000, the Expert Panel on Access to Historical Census Records released its findings (see: http://www.statcan.ca/english/census96/finalrep.htm) and indicated that the issues at stake are complex and far reaching. The government is committed to protecting the privacy rights of Canadians who were given an assurance of confidentiality at the time they completed the 1911 Census while, at the same time, the government must consider the legitimate needs of genealogists and others for access to historical census records. In light of these concerns the Minister responsible, the Hon. Brain Tobin, indicated that further broad based consultation with all Canadians is needed. This consultation will take place as part of the already announced administrative and legislative review of the Access to Information and the Privacy Acts. The government's primary reason for undertaking additional consultation is to ensure that, if access to historical census records is provided, this is done in a manner that respects the government's deep commitment to privacy. I would like to add that as a historian, I would personally like to see access to the Census records too. Yours truly, John Godfrey 02/01/2001 - email from Muriel M. Davidson to MP John Godfrey.
Sent: February 1, 2001 9:01 PM To: Godfrey.J@parl.gc.ca Subject: Hoping for your support again To Mr. John Godfrey, MP:- Your GOLD tick from the previous census session looks so great, I hope you will support Senator Lorna Milne and Murray Calder, MP again. My letter to you is a request for your assistance in rightfully gaining access to our heritage, yours and mine -- our Canadian census records. At present, due to present laws, the last available census one may view is the 1901 census -- family researchers hope to search further than that. Due to the cremation and scattering of ashes, we are often confronted with NO written record of the death of a loved one, unless the church records have recorded this part of one's life. Family history often is recorded from newspaper obituaries, if one is inserted in the paper. Therefore, the only reliable records in Canada would be our census records, as we often find some religious denominations have sealed records. I do not believe family history should have had to be brought into politics, but to gain release, this has had to be. Senator Lorna Milne and Murray Calder, MP will be re-presenting Private Member's Bills and if passed, each census would go automatically to the National Archives for our perusal - at a time period set by Parliament. QUESTION:- Will you, as an elected Member of Parliament, SUPPORT these Bills when these are presented by the above-mentioned? This would mean 1911 records released in 2003, 1921 in 2013 -- unless a time period of release is changed by law. Check http://globalgenealogy.com/census/index6.htm - for scoreboard. More census information at http://globalgenealogy.com/census Looking forward to a positive YES reply with YOUR signature, either in e-mail or letter form. Attached is a memo which denotes the feelings of many Canadians who wish to search for family members. Muriel M. Davidson Canada Census Committee Member Brampton, Ontario 05/25/2000 - e-mail from MP John Godfrey to Robin McLeod
Sent: May 25, 2000 10:51 AM To: Robin McLeod Subject: RE: May 25, 2000 Dear Robin, Thank you for your note respecting access to the 1901 Census. At the request of the Minister responsible, the Honourable John Manley, Statistics Canada has organized an expert panel to consider and review options for amending the legislation to allow access to Census records. As a historian, I would personally like to see access to the Census records too. Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your views. Yours truly, John Godfrey
Sent: May 24, 2000 8:51 PM To: Godfrey.J@parl.gc.ca Subject: Dear Mr Godfrey: It has been estimated that there are some 7.5 million plus Canadians, including myself, involved in Genealogical research. These citizens, in their quest for their past, for their Canadian heritage, depend heavily upon the information provided in Census reports. Under current legislation, post 1901 Census reports will not be released to the Public after 92 years, as have been Census reports up to and including 1901. In the past two years, many of those 7.5 million plus voters, have sent numerous letters and email to their local Members of Parliament, Government Ministers, and Senators expressing their dismay with, and opposition to, this legislation. They have requested the legislation be amended to allow release to the Public of Census reports after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census. I write to you, as my Member of Parliament, having been placed in that position by the voting citizens of your Constituency, to ask you whether you would vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public of Post 1901 Census Reports after 92 years, starting with the 1911 Census? As I believe you are a student of history, and a descendent of United Empire Loyalists (as evidenced by the Godfrey-Milliken bill), I suspect your answer would be FOR. I await your answer at your earliest convenience. Thank you. Sincerely yours Robin McLeod
To: Bob Davis Subject: RE: Releasing the post-1901 censuses Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 11:34:02 -0400 April 6, 2000 Thank you for your note respecting access to the 1901 Census. At the request of the Minister responsible, the Honourable John Manley, Statistics Canada has organized an expert panel to consider and review options for amending the legislation to allow access to Census records. As a historian, I would personally like to see access to the Census records too. Once again, thank you for taking the time to share your views. Yours truly, John Godfrey
Sent: April 2, 2000 4:32 AM To: Godfrey.J@parl.gc.ca Subject: Releasing the post-1901 censuses Records are the cornerstone of genealogy research, from them clues become fact, public information becomes personal and the Canadian family tree springs new roots. Because of the censuses 1851-1901 I now know where I came from. Please vote to release the post-1901 censuses. Bob Davis XXX Church St. Toronto
A web site has been posted at http://globalgenealogy.com/census to record MP's responses, so that those who are interested, will know the position that their elected representative has (or has not expressed) on the issue. Also included on the web site, is a correspondence log for each Member of Parliament, which will contain responses to this e-mail plus any other correspondence from the MP. The Question: "Would you, as an elected Member of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada, vote FOR or AGAINST a Bill supporting release to the Public, of Post 1901 Census Records, 92 years after they were recorded. ( 1911 census information available in 2003, 1921 in 2013 etc)" If you would like to expand on your position, your entire response will be posted to your individual correspondence log. The Post 1901 Census web site is sponsored by Global Genealogy & History Bookstore. A vast number of e-mails and calls from subscribers and web site visitors, clearly demonstrates that this issue is extremely important to them. Many readers have expressed that their current MP's position on this issue will weigh heavily in their decision process during the next election. |
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